International Weightlifting Federationhttp://www.iwf.net
Fri, 09 Dec 2016 12:34:05 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.5.3Fein: Olympic Champion tying for the first placehttp://www.iwf.net/2016/12/09/fein-olympic-champion-tying-for-the-first-place/
Fri, 09 Dec 2016 12:34:05 +0000http://www.iwf.net/?p=17752One hundred and nine years ago on 9th December 1907, Robert Fein, the Austrian weightlifter was born, who became lightweight Gold medallist at the Berlin Olympic Games 1936 in an unprecedented tie for the first place.

Fein got as far as 342,5 kg in total, the best in the competition, but Egyptian Anwar Mesbah performed the same result. As it happened, two winners were celebrated in the category of 67,5 kg.

Fein was born in Vienna and died in the same city in on 2nd January 1975.

After his Berlin victory, in 1937 Fein received his „Second Gold Medal” when one of the highest Austrian State distinctions, The Gold Medal for Service to the Republic of Austria was conferred upon him.

]]>Rio 2016, the most perfect imperfect Gameshttp://www.iwf.net/2016/12/08/rio-2016-the-most-perfect-imperfect-games/
Thu, 08 Dec 2016 16:27:30 +0000http://www.iwf.net/?p=17741The Rio 2016 Olympic Games were iconic in so many respects. Over the course of 16 glorious days, it witnessed new records, personal bests, great emotions and inspiring sportsmanship that only the magic of the Olympic Games can create.

“Someone called them the most perfect imperfect Games,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams said. “It’s actually quite a good characterisation.” The Rio de Janeiro Olympics may not have been perfect but organisers exceeded expectations given the political and economic situation in the South American country, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Tuesday.

Rio was awarded the Games in 2009 amid Brazil’s booming economy at the time, but the political crisis and the sharp financial downturn changed the organisers’ plans.

“From an operational point of view everything worked,” the IOC’s Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi told reporters. “Were they perfect? No. But with the results we can really take our hat off (to Rio organisers). It is amazing what they delivered”, he said.

Dubi said the IOC was satisfied with the Rio Games especially with the athletes’ performances including 100 world and Olympic records. Several countries won their first ever Olympic medals and the global coverage of the Games beat all past records.

The Rio 2016 Olympic Games were truly universal and inclusive. More NOCs than ever before sent athletes to the Games, while the women’s participation reached an all time high.

]]>News from our Members – Greecehttp://www.iwf.net/2016/12/08/news-from-our-members-greece/
Thu, 08 Dec 2016 13:17:42 +0000http://www.iwf.net/?p=17737Elections took place in the Hellenic Weightlifting Federation this autumn, whereby Dimitris Valasiadis was re-elected to the President’s position and Konstantinos Korlos was confirmed as General Secretary.
]]>40 years ago: Melbourne 1956http://www.iwf.net/2016/12/08/40-years-ago-melbourne-1956/
Thu, 08 Dec 2016 12:45:33 +0000http://www.iwf.net/?p=17734The XVI Games of the Summer Olympiad finished on 8 December 1956, four decades ago, in Melbourne. 3,314 athletes were present representing 67 nations who vied for glory in 19 sports. That was the first Olympic Games in the Southern Hemisphere. The Australians had to face several obstacles, one of the gravest of which was raising the funds to hold the Games. Eventually, the host State of Victoria had to resort to the financial assistance from the central government to be able to construct the necessary facilities. Due to the strict Australian veterinary regulations and restrictions, the equestrian events had to be held – instead of Melbourne – at an earlier time in June in the Swedish capital, Stockholm.

As for weightlifting: Olympic champion titles were awarded in seven bodyweight categories. Only two countries won gold: the USA athletes were best with four, the Soviet Union was second best with three gold medals each. The duel was decided on the last day when in the heavyweight category, the then plus 90kg, Paul Anderson triumphed with a round 500kg total result, including snatch, press and clean and jerk.

]]>Imre Földi receives highest recognition ‘Prima Primissima’http://www.iwf.net/2016/12/06/imre-foldi-receives-highest-recognition-prima-primissima/
Tue, 06 Dec 2016 10:32:33 +0000http://www.iwf.net/?p=17727The most popular and successful Hungarian weightlifter, Olympic, world and European champion Imre Földi has received a high recognition from Hungary’s society. Already a member of the elite Hall of Fame, Földi has been awarded the Prima Primissima Prize allocated to the most outstanding representatives of Hungary’s culture, arts, science and sport. In the presence of János Áder, President of the Republic of Hungary, at the awarding Gala Földi was recognised as a ‘living legend’, who started his weightlifting career in the mid-1950s and remained on the national squad until 1977. He was the first weightlifter in the world to participate in five Olympic Games (1960-1976) winning silver medals in 1964 Tokyo and 1968 Mexico before finally arriving at the peak of his career at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games where he became the Olympic champion.
He added 5 world and 10 European titles to his collection and set 35 world records.

In 2005 he was acclaimed as a “Lifter of the Century” and in 2009 he received the IWF Gold Award.

The Prima Primissima Prize is awarded by a public vote involving the entire Hungarian society.

]]>Jules Sylvain, Canadian weightlifter: 1925-2016http://www.iwf.net/2016/12/06/jules-sylvain-canadian-weightlifter-1925-2016/
Tue, 06 Dec 2016 10:03:35 +0000http://www.iwf.net/?p=17721Jules Sylvain (1925-2016) Canadian weightlifter, coach and referee died in Quebec. Jules Sylvain was the very first citizen of the city of Quebec to participate in the Olympic Games (men-women, winter-summer, all sports combined). He was a great athlete who competed in two Olympic Games: 1952 in Helsinki (10th) and 1956 in Melbourne (9th). He held all the records of the British Empire in his bodyweight category. He was also an international referee and served many major events, including the Montreal Olympic Games.
But of Jules what came out most is his great human qualities. He was a gentleman. In the sports world of Canadian weightlifting, everyone agrees that Jules has marked them with his exemplary personality. He was a positive example for the young and the not so young.
He regarded refereeing as life devotion – no better proof is that according to his last wish he was cremated in the official Technical Official uniform. May he rest in peace!

Special thanks must go to the IWF Development Program for funding these excellent programs.

Exciting plans are in place for 2017 including the new EWF Communication App, Training camps and education programs / workshops.

Check the IWF and EWF Websites for updates.

Source: Colin Buckley

]]>Yuri Vlasov celebrates 81st birthdayhttp://www.iwf.net/2016/12/05/yuri-vlasov-celebrates-81st-birthday/
Mon, 05 Dec 2016 12:33:48 +0000http://www.iwf.net/?p=17710Arnold Schwarzenegger sent him an autographed photograph after their 1988 meeting in Moscow and signed it „To my Idol, Yuri Vlasov”. The Soviet Union Post commemorated his 1960 victory at the Olympic Games in Rome on a special stamp – only to mention two moments in the life of one of the greatest and most popular Soviet weightlifters, Yuri Petrovich Vlasov, who celebrates his 81st birthday today, on December 5th.

Born in Makiivka, Ukraine, Vlasov became an Olympic gold medallist in the category +90kg 56 years ago. Four years later, in the 1964 Tokyo Games he finished as a silver medallist behind Leonid Zhabotinsky, another Soviet star. In both Olympic Games he was the flag bearer of the USSR delegation.

He triumphed four times in the annual World Championships in heavyweight: 1959, 1961, 1962 and 1963. In the European Championships he could stand right at the top of the podium six times and set up altogether 34 world records.

A proof of his exceptional qualities: between 1959 to 1963 he won all the competitions he entered. By the way, he was the first weightlifter to clean & jerk 200 kilos and more.

After retiring as a competitor in 1968, he became famous as a writer and a politician.

Happy Birthday, Yuri Vlasov!

]]>1st Tournament in more than 40 years in Barbadoshttp://www.iwf.net/2016/12/05/1st-tournament-in-more-than-40-years-in-barbados/
Mon, 05 Dec 2016 11:49:40 +0000http://www.iwf.net/?p=17707Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of their Independence, the Barbados Weightlifting Association (BWA) joined these festivities by holding the very first single-day-Tournament in the last 40+ years. This time the Phillips & Springer Classic, on Sunday 27 November, was revived to give the present-day lifters an opportunity to show the world their level of commitment to the sport. The national coach and all around “commander in chief”, Mr. Andrew CALLENDER, organized this event with the help of two special guests: Dr. Kyle PIERCE (USA) who spoke the day before on strength training, while David COLÓN-ARROYO (PUR) explained the requirements to become an efficient Technical Official. Also at hand was Category #1, Gabi MÁTHÉ (HUN), who kept the communication flowing from the Marshall’s desk to the speaker.

An eager group of about 50 lifters participated in five sessions where a full capacity at the Queen Park Steel Shed applauded every lift from start to end. Several personal records were improved and the conclusion of this great show rendered no injuries among the participants.

The highlight of the Tournament was the presence of Mr. Austin SEALY, IOC Member.

This experience demonstrated that the BOA complied with all the technical aspects of the Rules and Regulations included in the IWF Rule Book. The platform, made of a special species of redwood, held nicely throughout the event that used ELEIKO equipment. By the way, this barbell competition set was the result of the intervention of Moira Lassen, IWF Board Member, through Mr. Richard Gonsalves who made it possible for the set to reach Barbados at a nominal cost.

Ample photographic evidence of this historical event is available at the following web site address:

Special thanks to Ms. Shelley Griffith who worked tirelessly in the administrative aspects that made possible the presence of Kyle, David and Gabi to this beautiful island in the Caribbean.

]]>United World Wrestling partnered with IWFhttp://www.iwf.net/2016/12/05/united-world-wrestling-partnered-with-iwf/
Mon, 05 Dec 2016 11:08:55 +0000http://www.iwf.net/?p=17698United World Wrestling in partnership with the International Weightlifting Federation hold a Strength and Conditioning Course for wrestling coaches in Kuortane, Finland between 16th and 20th November supported by the Olympic Solidarity. 30 participants from 17 countries participated at the course where IWF experts, Mr. Tamas Feher and Ms. Karoliina Lundahl delivered theoretical and practical lectures, including the proper weightlifting technique to be utilized during the strength trainings by wrestlers. The course was a great success and IWF hopes to have further cooperation with other IFs in the future.

]]>EWF Executive Board Meeting and Congresshttp://www.iwf.net/2016/12/05/ewf-executive-board-meeting-and-congress/
Mon, 05 Dec 2016 00:01:43 +0000http://www.iwf.net/?p=17695On 1st December 2016, the European Weightlifting Federation held its Executive Board meeting opened by its President Dr. Antonio Urso. The Israel Weightlifting Federation President Oren Shai gave information about the upcoming European Junior and U23 Championships. The Congress was held on 2nd December.

EWF General Secretary Dr. Hasan Akkus informed the members about the record number of participants – 345 athletes that will take part in the championships and gave an inclusive summary about the EWF activities.

Report on Seminars organized by the EWF in the framework of the IWF Development Program for Continental Federations were also presented:

24-28 August North Europe Training Camp and Scientific Seminar in Ventspils, LAT

24 September South European Training Camp and Scientific Seminar in Valencia, ESP

7-8 October Coaches Research and Scientific Conference in Dublin, IRL

3-6 November Technical Officials’ Seminar in Split, CRO

Upcoming EWF Events were attributed as follows:

2017 European U15 and U17 Championships La Coruna, ESP

2018 European U15 and U17 Championships Tartu, EST

The IWF was represented by Ms. Lilla Rozgonyi, Communication and Marketing Director.

]]>Switzerland upgrades coaching by Seminarshttp://www.iwf.net/2016/12/02/switzerland-upgrades-coaching-by-seminars/
Fri, 02 Dec 2016 13:11:23 +0000http://www.iwf.net/?p=17690One with old traditions but less-than-required presence in the weightlifting scene in our days, the Swiss Weightlifting Federation organized a two-part Seminar within the framework of the IWF Development Program. The first part of the coaching course was held in May while the second part took place during the last weekend of November.

Gabriel Prongué and John Lopez, certified coaches, spoke in front of 10 participants – among them athletes, coaches, Technical Officials and the President of the Swiss Federation. The topics covered training planning, competition approach, rules and regulations. Mrs. Ursula Lauper, nutritionist, talked about the importance of proper nutrition in an athlete’s life. The theoretical part was followed by presentations about training programs delivered by the coaches, and the Seminar concluded with practical sessions in the gym.
With such Seminars Switzerland aims to upgrade its weightlifting coaching and, ultimately, to raise the level of its weightlifters in an international context.